Collins Artworks

Art Exhibit at our AOR Gallery at Kravnz Bakery Cafe and Thayer Memorial Library

2010-07-10T17:03:04Z

Upper Antelope Canyon

For more information, look here.

Art Show "Paved Paradise, Protected Places," a pastel painting exhibit by Lisa Regopoulos

2010-07-01T03:10:06Z

Purple Irisises

For more information, look here.

Our first anniversary is July 6, 2010

2010-06-29T20:05:01Z

Believe it or not, an entire year has passed since we opened our doors for business. In celebration of our anniversary, we will be offering a 30% discount on all readymade frames in stock, and a general 10% discount on all other merchandise in the store. These discounts will only last until Saturday, July 10, 2010, so don't delay!

We will be closed for the 4th of July holiday

2010-06-29T20:00:28Z

Collins Artworks will be closed Saturday, July 3, 2010 through Monday, July 5, 2010, in observance of the 4th of July holiday. We will be open for business as usual on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, which happens to be our first anniversary!

Have a wonderful holiday.

Adult Watercolor Class - FALL 2010

2010-06-29T20:00:00Z

Dates: 7 weeks in September 2010 Call for dates Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Instructor: Sheryll Collins Tuition: $85 Location: Collins Artworks Art Center, 18 High Street, Clinton, MA 01510 Maximum class size: 12 Description: Watercolor class for beginning and intermediate students. Beginning students will learn basic art theory and design principles, and the use of the medium of watercolor. Intermediate students will advance their understanding of color theory and design principles. Subjects covered will include portraiture, landscape, and still life. Optional- For the convenience of the student, a basic art supply kit will be available for sale at the gallery, specifically tailored for the class. The kit costs $180 plus tax and includes the following: The student may also bring what you have for supplies. 1 Arches 12x16 140 lb. cold press watercolor block, 20 sheets 1 tube each Da Vinci Artists Watercolors 15 ml Quinacradone Permanent Rose, Quinacradone Gold, French Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cadmium Red Medium, and Burnt Sienna 1 tube M. Graham Watercolors 15 ml Burnt Umber 1 each Loew Cornell American Painter Brushes 1" wash, #8 round and #12 round 1 Drawing Pencil 3B 1 Alvin Vinyl eraser 1 Design kneaded eraser 2 Covered paint containers 1 Butcher tray palette, 7 1/2" x 11" 1 8”x10” sketch book The kit is optional, but the student should have these supplies in time for class. Also required is a 24” or longer ruler, 2 water containers (cups, etc.), masking or artist tape, plastic wrap, salt, wax paper, natural sponge, and a small white candle. Masking fluid is optional.

Coming this fall- Urban Graffiti Art Class for teens

2010-06-29T19:56:01Z

Coming this fall an art class for teens. An american graffiti art class will be taught on paper. Teens will learn the vocabulary of graffiti drawing and painting. A brief history of this art form will be discussed.They will produce works of art on paper. Class will meet after school one day a week. The tuition is affordable. $50 for 4 classes and $10 supply fee Call the store for details.

Custom Framing, Giclee printing, image scanning, photo restoration, photo printing

2010-06-14T22:29:15Z

Collins Artworks is a full service custom frame shop. We carry frames from Decor, Larson Juhl, Don Mar, and Studio moldings. We carry mats from several well known manufacturers. Lastly, we have ready- made frames. We also can reproduce your work of art on canvas or paper as a giclee. Collins Artworks can print your photography on beautiful acid free paper. We scan your image and color correct it to the original. Do you have an old photo that needs correction do to damage? We will scan it and restore your image to its original condition. Call for prices. You will be pleasantly surprised! Our prices are very affordable. Come on in and let us create a treasure for a lifetime.

Register for Adult Art Class Introduction to Acrylic Painting Workshop

2010-05-05T22:58:01Z

To sign up, click here and fill out the form, or call (978) 368-3300.

Introduction to Acrylics

Instructor: Lori MacDonald Wednesday: 4 Wednesday evenings. New start date- Starting: July 7, 14, 21, and 28 Class will begin when enrollment is full. Call for details. When: 6:30- 9 pm Where: Collins Artworks 18 High St. Clinton Cost: $75 tuition plus $79 (includes tax) -the complete materials package -- brushes, paints, sample mediums, painting grounds, and more! A great value! Learn to make a color chart using a split primary palette. You’ll learn to work with a variety of acrylic mediums and painting grounds, explore the brushes included in the materials package, and prepare a masonite panel for painting. Later we'll paint a landscape using my photo reference as I guide you step-by-step. We’ll paint on watercolor paper, canvas, mixed media pads, and masonite. We’ll work with glazes, and washes, and explore impasto techniques. This class takes place in FOUR, 2 1/2 hour sessions. I schedule my classes based on enrollment (a minimum of 6 people are needed).

Current exhibits at the AOR Galleries

2010-05-04T01:42:09Z

Richard Keating's abstract acrylic paintings- "Kaleidoscope" will be on exhibit at the Art On Rotation Gallery at High St. Cafe 310 High St. Clinton, MA 01510. The exhibit Kaleidoscope is all about color and shape. This is Richard's first show in central Massachusetts. A reception for the artist will be held Saturday May 8, 2010 from 11 am- 1pm. Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited. Grigor Kotnani watercolor paintings exhibit, "Vibrance,"will be on display at the Art On Rotation Gallery at the Thayer Memorial Library May through June 2010. The exhibit can be viewed in the adult reference room during library hours. Grigor's use of color will pull you into his paintings to enjoy. Grigor Kotnani was born in 1986 and raised in Korce, Albania. He learned to paint at the age of five. He moved to United States when he was 11 without knowing English and successfully completed and Art major at Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts. Grigor works primarily with oil and watercolor with a distinct style in each medium. He is particularly well known for the brilliant use of colors in his watercolors. My latest art has become more of vibrant colors over paper. The reason I am using this technique is to make my landscapes and still lives appear full of life or livelier than reality. I feel that by using vibrant colors and attractive backgrounds the viewer falls into the painting deeper than they otherwise would. I consider all my paintings to be more of a connection of my inner world with the outer image that I see every day. My paintings can be best described as expressive and energetic.

Framing Essentials - Archival Framing for Watercolors and Works on Paper

2010-04-16T18:27:30Z

To hang your work in the Collins Artworks Art Center gallery, it should be framed to archival standards, meaning that the frame must be an acid-free, watertight and dust blocking environment for your artwork. This requirement only applies to works on paper, works that are susceptible to contact, moisture or dust damage, such as drawings, watercolor paintings, and pastel paintings. If you aren’t sure if you need an archival frame for a specific piece, give us a call or stop in and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions. A basic archival frame begins with the frame itself, which is most commonly made of wood. Specifically, to seal out dust and moisture, the corners (also known as miters) must be glued as well as nailed to provide both strength to the joints and a barrier to dust and moisture. You may have encountered frames and frame kits made of a compressed cardboard product with a wood-like veneer with a groove on the back for spring clips. I generally do not recommend these frames, but they can be used if cost is a big factor. The spring clips tend to pop off after a while, and the grooves tend to widen over time, eventually making it impossible for the clips to stay in place. Wood is a much better choice, but as long as the miters are glued, these cheaper frames will still provide an archival result. If your matted work happens to match a common size, you can likely find decent pre-made ("readymade") wooden frames, sometimes with mat, backing board and glazing included at a discounted price as compared to a custom frame. So it can pay to paint standard size works. If you think a readymade frame will work, make sure you get one that’s a minimum of 5” longer and wider than your work. The frame should be close to the dimensions of the painting, giving anywhere from 2” to 4” of mat width depending on the size of the painting and the desired look. If the frame varies proportionally from the painting, the variance should be no more than an inch or so, and only in the vertical direction. The variance should be left on the bottom of the mat, with the other three sides being the same width, and the bottom being wider by the amount of the variance. A custom frame is generally cut from frame stock using a miter saw. The mitered frame pieces are then joined using neutral-PH (acid-free) wood glue (Elmer’s Carpenter’s Glue or similar) and nails. Once the glue is dried on the frame, the rest of the components are placed in the frame in the form of a sandwich. First is the glazing, which can be acrylic, Plexiglas or glass. Each has pros and cons, but generally acrylic or Plexiglas is preferred in a gallery setting because it’s lighter and much less likely to break than glass. Glass tends to be cheaper and less susceptible to scratching. Glazing is usually at least 1/8" thick, though you may need it to be thicker for larger frames. For an added cost, you can choose glazing that provides UV protection and reflection control to reduce glare. When your work will hang in a space that gets significant sun light, UV protection is well worth the added cost. Second is the mat, artwork, second mat, and backing board. The mat is cut to overlap the artwork somewhat, generally 1/8" or so all around (HINT: That means you should plan to lose a little of the edges of the work, so don’t sign your name too close to the edge!). Next, the mat is taped to a second piece of mat board along the top edge using linen hinging tape. The artwork is then aligned under the mat and anchored to the second mat using a variety of methods. The goal is to mount the artwork so it won’t move and to do so without getting any kind of adhesive on the artwork. Whatever is done to mount and frame the artwork must be completely reversible. The backing board, usually foamcore, is placed under the second mat. Note: The backing board and mat needs to be neutral-PH. A framing shop (including us) will generally know to use neutral-PH materials, but make sure you look for it if you decide to buy your own materials or make your own frames. Once the mat/artwork/backing board is assembled, the glazing should be carefully wiped with a static-free cloth to get rid of dust, hair, or whatever detritus manages to be there. Immediately after wiping, the mat/artwork/backing board sandwich is placed in the frame. A series of nails is shot into the edge of the frame where the backing board meets the frame. The goal is to put slight, even pressure on the backing board all the way around the frame. I recommend using flat framing nails because they can be bent up to allow easy removal of the frame contents, and they provide wider contact with the backing board. However, small brads will work too. Third, the back of the frame is sealed by running frame sealing tape over the seam between the frame and backing board all the way around, overlapping as needed to insure a total seal. Fourth, a dust cover can optionally be applied to the entire back surface of the frame using double-sided tape. Fifth, mounting hardware is screwed into the back of the frame around 30% down from the top edge of the frame. We prefer hardware that lies flush (or close to flush) against the back of the painting, minimizing the chances for damage during handling. This rules out eye screws. Picture hanging wire is then threaded through the hardware, wrapped around the hardware twice, and then twisted for an inch or two around the wire. Sixth (and last), felt or silicone bumpers are glued to the bottom corners of the back of the frame. When framing for shows or display in a gallery, a simple black or brown frame and a white or near white mat is preferred. Also, “inner” mats cost extra and are generally unnecessary, though if you do have one, make sure that any glue used to install it is acid-free. Finally, if you have a choice of backing board, go with acid-free foam core. It’s light weight, stiff, and easy to work with. If you’re interested in doing your own framing, or would just like to know more than you currently do, there are some excellent resources on the internet. Whatever you do, if you don’t have a Wetcanvas login, get one now! (wetcanvas.com) Then login, and check out the Studio Tips and Framing forum, and the Framing Discussion forum. You will very likely find answers to your questions. There are dozens of forums on Wetcanvas, all very active, incredibly useful resources. One final word. We have several reasons for expecting that all works displayed in the gallery are framed to archival standards.

Your work should be treated with respect, as objects of value, both to you, the gallery, and to prospective customers.
The customer deserves to buy a quality product that can be depended upon to weather the test of time.
The gallery has a reputation to maintain, a reputation for marketing quality art work at reasonable prices.

Collins Artworks provides a full range of custom framing services, along with full service digital imaging and fine art printing. We welcome you to consult with us on your next framing, scanning or printing project. We offer quality workmanship using the best materials at a very competitive price.

The gallery had a face lift!

2010-04-13T21:17:43Z

We finally finished replacing the signs on the front of the building. Our goals were to make it more obvious what we are, especially for drive-by traffic, increasing impact, and making more of the windows open to view from the outside.

Art On Rotation Gallery- Artists wanted

2010-04-12T17:58:09Z

Wanted, artists to display their work at the Collins Artworks Art Center Art On Rotation Galleries. We are currently taking applications from artists for shows at the AOR galleries. Each show is a 2 month commitment. For details and more information call Sheryll Collins at Collins ARTworks Art Center 978-368-3300. Also visit us on FACEBOOK. See link on sidebar

2010 Summer Art Camp

2010-03-10T02:54:09Z

To sign up, click here and fill out the form, or call (978) 368-3300.

The 2010 Collins Artworks Summer Art Camp offers nine exciting, fun and educational weeks of theme-based art instruction for kids of all ages. For more information, or to register, call us or stop in at the gallery.

Week 1, June 28 through July 2, 2010: Artistic Time Travel

Travel through time to explore the art of ancient cultures. Learn about the methods used by ancient artists, and the beliefs that inspired them. Students will discover ancient art forms and customs and will apply what they learn to making art like the artists of ancient Egypt, Australia, America, China, and more.

Week 2, July 5 through July 9, 2010: Mixed Media Sculptor

Create works of art using different sculpting media. Students will study the work of other sculptors and use what they learn to create works of art using similar methods and techniques.

Week 3, July 12 through July 16, 2010: 2D to 3D

Students will create 2D works of art in vibrant colors, and 3D versions of the same works.

Week 4, July 19 through July 23, 2010: Exploring Color

The kids will learn basic color theory by looking at images of paintings by famous artists. Several different artists will be studied and their art explored. Children will make a color wheel and create art pieces in different color schemes.

Week 5, July 26 through July 30, 2010: Painting Animals from Around the World

While drawing and painting animals from around the world, color relationships will be explored. Children will study artists who painted animals using different color families.

Week 6, August 2 through August 6, 2010: Under the Sea

You are in a submarine exploring the deep oceans. You see large, strange fish and creatures no one has seen before. Using mixed media you learn new ways to work with color as you paint these previously unseen creatures of the deep.

Week 7, August 9 through August 13, 2010: Night at the Museum

You are a night watchman and it is your first week on the job. Hours into the night, the dinosaur suddenly moves. This week the student will experience a museum full of art and history. The student will learn about dinosaurs and cave art, Chinese brush painting, Egyptian art, and more.

Week 8, August 16 through August 20, 2010: Something Modern

The Kids will learn about such well known modern artists as Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, and Robert Rauschenburg. The students will practice the methods used by these artists in making their own works of art.

Week 9, August 23 through August 27, 2010: Movie Making

You are an artist at a movie studio, hired to make a clay animation movie. The students will write a story using a "story board", create clay models to animate the story, photograph each "frame", finally combining the frames into a movie clip. The students will practice writing and drawing skills to create the story and models while learning the basic principles of animation.

Additional Information

The children will use several methods and media to produce their works of art such as watercolor, tempera, oil pastels, craypas, colored pencils, watercolor crayons, markers, clay, batik, model magic, foam core, crayons, handmade textured papers, etc. While having fun, the kids will learn basic art theory - line, positive/negative space, composition, and color.

Each lesson is taught according to the developmental level of each child. A registered nurse will be present during each session.

Tuition:Half day (9 AM to noon or 1 PM to 4 PM): $85; Full day (9 AM to 4 PM): $150. A 10% discount is given to families registering more than 1 child.

April Vacation Art Camp -"Dragons of Myth and Legend"

2010-03-08T20:30:14Z

Dragons of Myth and Legend April 19 through April 23, 2010 Dragons throughout history have been part of myth and legends of cultures around the world. This week we will exam dragons as painted by several countries. The students will create their own work of art like those seen through history. The children will use several methods and media to produce their works of art such as watercolor, tempera, oil pastels, craypas, colored pencils, watercolor crayons, markers, clay, batik, model magic, foam core, crayons, handmade textured papers, etc. While having fun, the kids will learn basic art theory - line, positive/negative space, composition, and color. Each lesson is taught according to the developmental level of each child. A registered nurse will be present during each session. Tuition: Half day (9 AM to noon or 1 PM to 4 PM): $85; Full day (9 AM to 4 PM): $150. Discounts are offered for families registering more than 1 child. Ask us for details. To sign up, click here and fill out the form, or call (978) 368-3300.

Register now for Adult Classes- Watercolor Workshop

2010-03-05T22:58:25Z

To sign up, click here and fill out the form, or call (978) 368-3300.

Watercolor Painting - Beginner and Intermediate Workshop

Dates: 4 classes: May 20, May 27, June 3, and June 10, 2010 Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Instructor: Sheryll Collins Tuition: $65 Special price Credit Cards Accepted Location: To be held in the Dexter Room at the Thayer Memorial Library 717 Main St. Lancaster, Ma. Maximum class size: 12 Description: Watercolor class for beginning and intermediate students. Beginning students will learn basic art theory and design principles, and the use of the medium of watercolor. Intermediate students will advance their understanding of color theory and design principles. Subjects covered will include portraiture, landscape, and still life. Materials and supplies: We sell an optional supply kit (see below) that contains most of what the student needs for the class. Whether or not the student purchases a kit, the listed supplies are required by the start of class. You may bring your own watercolor supplies or use the list as a guide. Also required is a 24” or longer ruler, 2 water containers (cups, etc.), masking or artist tape, plastic wrap, salt, wax paper, natural sponge, and a small white candle. Masking fluid is optional.

Optional Supply Kit for the Above Classes

For the convenience of the student, a basic art supply kit will be available for sale at the gallery, specifically tailored for the Beginner and Intermediate Watercolor classes and the Watercolor and Mixed Media class. (You may bring your own supplies.)The kit costs $180 plus tax and includes the following: 1 Arches 12x16 140 lb. cold press watercolor block, 20 sheets 1 tube each Da Vinci Artists Watercolors 15 ml Quinacradone Permanent Rose, Quinacradone Gold, French Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cadmium Red Medium, and Burnt Sienna 1 tube M. Graham Watercolors 15 ml Burnt Umber 1 each Loew Cornell American Painter Brushes 1" wash, #8 round and #12 round 1 Drawing Pencil 3B 1 Alvin Vinyl eraser 1 Design kneaded eraser 2 Covered paint containers 1 Butcher tray palette, 7 1/2" x 11" 1 8”x10” sketch book The kit is optional, but the student should have these supplies in time for class.